Homelessness is a world wide matter of concern!
Homelessness in the United States increased significantly in the late 1970s and became an important political topic.The number of homeless people further grew in the 1980s, as housing and social service cuts increased and the economy deteriorated. The United States government determined that somewhere between 200,000 and 500,000 Americans were then homeless. The number of homeless is reported to have risen since that time.
Over the past decade, the availability and quality of data on homelessness has improved considerably, due in part to initiatives by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and several nongovernmental organizations working with homeless populations. Improved data collection has led to a more accurate and complete understanding of the nature of homelessness in the United States.
According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were 664,414 sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons nationwide on a single night in January 2008. Additionally, about 1.6 million persons used an emergency shelter or a transitional housing program during the 12-month period between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008. This number suggests that 1 in every 190 persons in the United States used the shelter system at some point in that period.
According to the United States Conference of Mayors, the main cause is the lack of affordable housing.
The three next primary causes are:
mental illness or the lack of needed services,
Prisoner release. National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients
Prior to the release of the first AHAR in 2005, the last rigorous attempt at estimating annual homeless prevalence in the United States was undertaken by the 1996 National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (NSHAPC). Annual homeless prevalence was estimated at between 1.58 million (based on October/November four-week count) to 3.49 million (based on February seven day count). Most, though not all, advocates use the higher estimate of over 3 million, especially since homelessness is thought to have risen since 1996.
The 1996 NSHAPC survey reported:
Family status:
Over the past decade, the availability and quality of data on homelessness has improved considerably, due in part to initiatives by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and several nongovernmental organizations working with homeless populations. Improved data collection has led to a more accurate and complete understanding of the nature of homelessness in the United States.
According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were 664,414 sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons nationwide on a single night in January 2008. Additionally, about 1.6 million persons used an emergency shelter or a transitional housing program during the 12-month period between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008. This number suggests that 1 in every 190 persons in the United States used the shelter system at some point in that period.
According to the United States Conference of Mayors, the main cause is the lack of affordable housing.
The three next primary causes are:
mental illness or the lack of needed services,
- substance abuse and lack of needed services.
- low-paying jobs.
Prisoner release. National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients
Prior to the release of the first AHAR in 2005, the last rigorous attempt at estimating annual homeless prevalence in the United States was undertaken by the 1996 National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (NSHAPC). Annual homeless prevalence was estimated at between 1.58 million (based on October/November four-week count) to 3.49 million (based on February seven day count). Most, though not all, advocates use the higher estimate of over 3 million, especially since homelessness is thought to have risen since 1996.
The 1996 NSHAPC survey reported:
Family status:
- 61% Single men
- 15% Single women
- 12.2% Women with children
- 4.6% Other women
- 5.3% Other men
- 2.3% Men with children
- 41% White, non-Hispanic
- 40% Black, non-Hispanic
- 11% Hispanic
- 8% Native American
- 1% Other
- 5% Less than one week
- 8% Greater than one week, less than one month
- 15% One to three months
- 11% Four to six months
- 15% Seven to twelve months
- 16% Thirteen to twenty four months
- 10% Twenty-five to sixty months
- 20% Five or more years
- 62% Alcohol
- 58% Drugs
- 57% Mental health
- 27% Mental health and alcohol or drug (dual diagnosed)